The Internet of Things (IoT) has evolved from a futuristic concept to a core component of modern technology with the changing tide of time. Initially, IoT adoption was gradual, as businesses and individuals explored its potential for automation and data-driven insights. The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst for this evolution. The urgent need for remote monitoring, contactless interactions, and automated processes during the pandemic fueled the importance of IoT. Today, its adoption is a mainstream necessity in healthcare.
Looking at the trends, the IoT in the healthcare market is projected to reach $312.7 by 2030 at a CAGR of 15 percent from 2023 to 2030. This growth is directly proportional to the immense potential of IoT.
This blog will analyze this potential and help you learn why IoT implementation in healthcare can be a game changer. To begin with, let’s start with the basics-
What is IoT in Healthcare?
IoT in healthcare is the interconnected network of medical devices, software applications, and systems that exchange data over the internet. This technology allows healthcare providers to extend their services beyond the clinical setting by gathering valuable insights from the data these devices generate. In hospitals and other healthcare facilities, IoT devices are used to monitor patients, manage medical equipment, and track inventory efficiently.
IoT connectivity in healthcare brings a network of individuals, including healthcare professionals, administrators, insurance providers, and patients, to a closely connected community.
Through its engagement with multiple stakeholders, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) addresses several prevalent challenges in the healthcare ecosystem, such as:
- Inefficient patient care
- Emergency Response
- Medical errors
- Supply chain management
- Medical research
- Chronic Disease Management
- Hospital Operations
- Rural healthcare management
Key Application of IoT Implementation in Healthcare
The increasing popularity of IoT has positioned it to resolve numerous challenges for patient care, hospital operations, and medical research. Let’s have a detailed look at its positioning.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Remote patient monitoring is the most common application of IoT devices for healthcare. These devices can automatically gather health metrics such as heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature from patients who are not at the healthcare facility. This removes the necessity for patient travel or self-collection of this data.
Smart Medical Devices
Smart medical devices are advanced tools that use IoT technology to analyze health data in real-time. For instance, life-supporting systems when integrated with IoT technology, can become a powerful tool to save lives in hospitals with effective patient monitoring systems. IoT-enabled ventilators can continuously monitor a patient’s respiratory status, adjust settings based on the patient’s needs, and alert healthcare providers if any abnormalities are detected. This ensures optimal ventilation support and reduces the risk of complications.
Telemedicine
Implementing the functionality of smart medical devices, IoT technology expands access to healthcare through telemedicine. This allows for remote consultations that reduce the need for in-person visits. Patients can receive medical advice, prescriptions, and follow-up care via video consultations and remote monitoring.
IoT improves convenience and access to specialist care, particularly in rural areas. For example, in chronic disease management, IoT devices enable continuous monitoring of conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Patients can track their vital signs at home, and healthcare providers can receive real-time updates for timely interventions. Similarly, IoT benefits other streams of medicine like elderly care, post-surgical recovery, mental health, pediatrics, cardiology, and many more.
Asset and Inventory Management
IoT optimizes asset and inventory management in healthcare settings. Tracking the location and condition of medical equipment and supplies provides real-time visibility. This minimizes waste and leads to cost savings and efficient resource allocation.
Clinical Workflow Optimization
IoT technologies significantly streamline clinical workflows by automating routine tasks, capturing real-time data, and providing timely alerts to healthcare professionals.
For instance, in a hospital, smart room controls adjust lighting, temperature, and other environmental factors to improve patient comfort. Safety monitoring systems, such as fall detection sensors, alert staff immediately in case of patient accidents, ensuring rapid response and reducing the risk of serious injuries.
Drug Management and Compliance
IoT technology improves drug management and compliance by using connected devices to track medication usage and provide real-time data. It manages how well patients follow their prescribed medication regimens, including taking the correct dose at the right time.
The opioid crisis has highlighted the need for better management and monitoring of prescription medications. IoT-enabled pill dispensers can track opioid usage, such that patients take their medication as prescribed. These smart devices can alert healthcare providers if there are signs of misuse or overuse.
Must read: IoT Solutions and Online App Development for Pharmaceutical companies.
Identification of Chronic Diseases
IoT healthcare technology helps identify chronic illnesses by matching patient-reported symptoms with existing data. Data from these wearable devices can provide doctors insights about heart rate, blood sugar, blood pressure levels, and more, outside the provider’s settings. These devices make people more health-conscious and aware of their medical conditions through connected apps.
Check out our blog on – Use cases of patient tracking software for enhanced patient care.
How is IoT in Healthcare Work?
The integration of IoT in healthcare involves a series of steps that provide efficient data collection and processing. The infographic below illustrates the workflow of IoT in the healthcare ecosystem, divided into three main layers: User Layer, Proximity Network, and Provider Cloud.
The integration of IoT in healthcare involves a series of steps that provide efficient data collection and processing. The infographic below illustrates the workflow of IoT in the healthcare ecosystem, divided into three main layers: User Layer, Proximity Network, and Provider Cloud.
User Layer
The User Layer involves patient’s and healthcare professionals’ initial interaction with IoT devices. Here’s how it works:
- IoT User: Patients, nurses, and doctors use IoT devices, such as wearable health monitors and smart medical equipment.
- End User: These users interact with the devices to monitor and manage health conditions, collecting real-time health data.
Proximity Network
The Proximity Network acts as the conduit for data transmission from the IoT devices to the cloud. Data flows in this layer through:
- Medical Devices: IoT-enabled medical devices continuously collect health data from users.
- IoT Gateway: The data from these devices is transmitted to the IoT Gateway, which acts as a bridge to the cloud infrastructure. The gateway ensures secure data transmission and initial processing.
- Edge Services: These services perform preliminary data processing and filtering near the data source, reducing latency and improving transmission efficiency.
- Security: Throughout this process, security measures are in place to protect the data from unauthorized access and breaches.
Provider Cloud
The Provider Cloud is where the collected data is stored, processed, and analyzed.
- Cloud Services: The data transmitted from the IoT Gateway reaches the cloud services, which include:
- Data Storage: Patient data is securely stored in cloud repositories.
- Analytics: Advanced analytics tools and machine learning algorithms analyze the data to derive actionable insights.
- Visualization: The analyzed data is then converted into visual formats that are easy for healthcare professionals to understand and use in decision-making.
Security: Throughout this process, security measures are in place to protect the data from unauthorized access and breaches.
IoT Governance: Ensures that the use of IoT devices and the management of data comply with policies and regulations, maintaining ethical standards and protecting patient privacy.
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Examples of IoT Medical Devices in Healthcare
Healthcare IoT devices represent significant technological advancements that streamline various aspects of healthcare, such as reducing emergency room wait times, tracking patients, staff, and inventory, improving drug management, and ensuring critical hardware availability. Let’s have a comprehensive understanding of the popular IoT medical devices in healthcare.
Hearables
The hearing aid, originally invented by Miller Reese Hutchison, has evolved significantly over time. These devices have become IoT healthcare tools that transform how people with hearing loss interact with their environment. Synced with smartphones via Bluetooth, they filter, equalize, and tailor sounds for real-world clarity. Similarly, Fitbit, a leader in wearable healthcare tech, offers Versa, which includes a sleep tracker, heart rate monitor, daily reminders, and on-screen workouts.
Smart Thermometers
Smart thermometers continuously monitor a patient’s temperature, providing real-time data to detect early signs of illness. When connected to other IoT devices, such as blood pressure and heart rate monitors, they offer a comprehensive view of a patient’s health. Due to these smart features, this technology has been gaining popularity in the market at an exponential rate. According to Statista, revenue in the Smart Thermometers market is projected to reach US$4.72bn in 2024.
Smart Pills
Smart pills monitor body functions and alert users to anomalies like symptoms of gut disorders. These IoT-enabled ingestible sensors travel through the digestive system, transmitting data about the body’s condition to an external receiver, with applications ranging from gastrointestinal monitoring to early cancer detection.
Insulin Pens
Internet-connected insulin pens allow patients with diabetes to manage their condition remotely. These devices provide real-time data to healthcare professionals, enabling better monitoring and treatment.
Healthcare Charting
Patient charting is time-consuming for doctors, but IoT technology now allows them to access vital clinical information through voice commands. This includes medical history, demographics, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, progress notes, immunizations, allergies, tests, and results.
Computer Vision Technology
Computer vision technology in healthcare can automatically detect and diagnose medical conditions like cancer. It also monitors patients’ vital signs and tracks their progress. Additionally, computer vision creates 3D models of organs and tissues, aiding in surgical planning and guiding procedures.
Smart Implants
Smart implants, such as pacemakers and orthopedic implants, provide continuous monitoring and real-time data on the status of the implant and the patient’s condition. This helps in early detection of potential issues and timely medical interventions.
Connected Inhalers
Connected inhalers monitor the usage and technique of patients with respiratory conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These devices can remind patients to take their medication, track usage patterns, and provide valuable data to healthcare providers for better management of respiratory diseases.
Telehealth Kiosks
Telehealth kiosks are self-contained, interactive stations that allow patients to access healthcare services remotely. Telehealth kiosks equipped with IoT devices like cameras, microphones, and interactive displays enable remote consultations and diagnostics. These kiosks are particularly useful in rural and underserved areas, where patients can receive routine care, consultations, and screenings without the need to travel.
Smart Beds
Smart beds in hospitals can monitor patient movements, detect falls, and adjust positions to improve comfort and prevent bedsores. These beds can also collect and transmit data on patient vitals, enhancing in-hospital care.
Infusion Pumps
IoT-enabled infusion pumps ensure accurate and timely delivery of medications and nutrients to patients. These pumps can be remotely monitored and controlled, reducing the risk of dosage errors and enhancing patient safety.
The Future of IoT in Healthcare
As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the integration of IoT in healthcare is set to bring about profound changes. Healthcare institutions are increasingly incorporating IoT applications into their operations, with about 60% of businesses in the industry already using IoT-based solutions. This shift reflects a strong move towards finding more effective ways to tackle the issues associated with manual record processing and management systems.
This transformation is not just about adding new gadgets but fundamentally reshaping how healthcare is delivered, managed, and experienced. From predictive analytics that preemptively address health issues to the rise of smart hospitals that operate with unprecedented efficiency. Here’s a closer look at what the future holds for IoT in healthcare:
Advanced Predictive Analytics
IoT devices will generate vast amounts of data, which can be analyzed using advanced algorithms and AI to predict health issues before they become critical. Predictive analytics will enable proactive care, reducing hospital admissions while improving overall patient health.
Real-world example: Kaiser Permanente uses predictive analytics with IoT to improve patient care workflows. For instance, their predictive analytics systems analyze data from IoT-enabled bed sensors, wearable devices, and EHRs to predict patient deterioration. This system alerts healthcare providers to patients who need immediate attention, allowing for timely interventions and improving overall patient safety and outcomes.
Integration with Artificial Intelligence
AI will play a significant role in processing and analyzing data from IoT devices. This integration will enhance diagnostic accuracy, automate routine tasks, and provide personalized treatment recommendations, making healthcare more efficient.
Real-world example: Boston Scientific has developed an IoT-enabled cardiac monitoring system that integrates with AI to manage heart failure patients remotely. The system collects data from implantable cardiac devices and transmits it to a cloud-based platform. AI algorithms analyze the data to detect early signs of heart failure exacerbation, which enables healthcare providers to intervene proactively and adjust treatment plans accordingly.
Smart Hospitals
Hospitals will become more connected and intelligent with the widespread adoption of IoT devices. Smart beds, automated medication dispensers, and real-time asset tracking will improve patient care, enhance operational efficiency, and reduce costs.
Real-world example: Mount Sinai Hospital collaborated with a smart mattress company to validate sleep sensor technology to enhance patient care. These smart mattresses monitor sleep patterns, providing valuable data to improve patient outcomes. This technology ensures patients’ well-being by automatically adjusting to prevent bedsores and alerting staff to patient movements.
Improved Data Security and Privacy
As IoT adoption in healthcare increases, so will the focus on data security and privacy. Advanced encryption methods, secure communication protocols, and compliance with regulations like HIPAA will ensure that patient data is protected.
Real-world Example: Boston Children’s Hospital has implemented secure IoT solutions that comply with data protection regulations. They use secure data storage and transmission protocols to protect patient data collected from various IoT devices, including smart monitors and wearable sensors. Their focus on data security ensures that patient privacy is maintained while leveraging IoT for improved healthcare delivery.
How can Nalashaa Solution help?
The IoT has streamlined medical processes and enhanced the experiences of patients and healthcare providers in numerous ways. It is transforming healthcare delivery by offering the convenience of immediate medical attention and facilitating a shift from in-person visits to remote interactions.
However, the successful implementation of IoT in healthcare requires specialized expertise and a professional approach. Engaging an expert IoT app development company that understands specific needs and provides innovative solutions is crucial.
Nalashaa Solutions offers custom healthcare IoT solutions, bringing significant benefits to patients and contributing to the overall success of your healthcare business. Our IoT development team is adept at leveraging cutting-edge technologies to transform your vision into reality.
Connect with us at info@nalashaa.com
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